BROOKINGS – An international conference on magnetic materials may not thrill most undergraduates, but to South Dakota State University junior Jace Waybright, it was an “attractive” opportunity.
The physics/mathematics major presented his materials research at the 2019 Joint Magnetism and Magnetic Materials and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers International Magnetics Conference in January in Washington, D.C.
“This is something we’ve been shooting for,” Waybright said, referring to the goals he and his adviser set each year. The Nebraska native had been doing research with Assistant Physics Professor Parashu Kharel since the summer before Waybright’s freshman year at South Dakota State.
After graduating from Lincoln East High School in May 2016, Waybright began working with Kharel through the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) at the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska.
“Once I started doing research, I fell in love with the process,” Waybright said. “It’s not just textbook answers – you’re doing things that nobody knows; doing things for the very first time. It’s very exciting and gives more of a purpose to your work.”
Waybright, who is also enrolled in SDSU’s Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College, sees the ability to develop connections with his professors as one of the factors contributing to his success.
“I know my professors and they know me,” he said. “Working with Dr. Kharel has brought me incredible opportunities that I wasn’t expecting as an undergraduate.”
“Jace is a bright, highly motivated young man who will one day be a very successful researcher and educator,” Kharel said. “He has delved enthusiastically into research and has seized each opportunity available.”
Last spring, Waybright received a Goldwater Scholarship and presented his research at the American Physical Society meeting. He also spent summer 2018 doing research at the National Institute for Materials Science in Tsukuba, Japan, as part of an international nanotechnology REU program through Cornell University. This summer, he will be working at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
During the materials conference poster session, Waybright presented his research on magnetic intermetallic materials, known as half-metallic Heusler compounds.
“The most common use for these compounds is spin-transport-based devices, such as the read heads of computer hard drives,” Waybright said. These new materials will make it possible to read information more accurately and efficiently.
“I was surprised how friendly and helpful people were. They were interested in my research and suggested different experiments I could do on my materials. They were respectful and helpful at the same time,” said Waybright, calling the conference an incredible experience that allowed him to make connections to achieve his next goal – admission to a doctoral program.
As he prepares to take the GRE physics subject test, Waybright admits, “I plan to shoot very high for graduate school.” He has gained the research experience and scholarly achievements to do just that. And he’s got another year at State to accomplish even more.
